This is here to structure a proper comparison table between the various launchers for Minecraft (Java Edition).
Feature | Vanilla | Prism Launcher | MultiMC | ATLauncher | GDLauncher | Curseforge | FTB App | Technic | Old Vanilla | PoJavLauncher |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Download Link | mojang.com | prismlauncher.org | multimc.org | atlauncher.com | gdevs.io | curseforge.com | feed-the-beast.com | technicpack.net | mojang.com | Play Store |
Source Code | --- | github.com | github.com | github.com | github.com | --- | backend frontend | --- | --- | github.com |
Operating Systems | Windows, Linux, MacOS | Windows, Linux, MacOS | Windows, Linux, MacOS | Windows, Linux, MacOS | Windows, Linux, MacOS | Windows, MacOS | Windows, Linux, MacOS | Windows, Linux, MacOS | Windows, Linux, MacOS | Android, iOS |
Open Source? | ❌No | ✅Yes, GPL3 | 🟠Partially. MultiMC is proprietary but a debranded MS-PL licensed version which lacks many keys MultiMC uses is available on GitHub | ✅Yes, GPL3 | ✅Yes, GPL3 (has CLA) | ❌No | ✅Yes, (LGPL-2.1) | ❌No | ❌No | ✅Yes, GPL3 |
Programming Language / Frameworks | C++ (CEF) | C++ (Qt) | C++ (Qt) | Java | Electron (HTML, JS, CSS), Rust | Overwolf | Java, Vue.Js (Overwolf) | Java | Java (AWT, Swing) | Java, C |
Modpack Support | ❌No | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ❌No | ❌No |
Modpack Updating | ❌No | ✅Yes (CF, MR) | ❌No | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ❔ | ❔ | ❌No | ❌No |
Custom Instance Support | 🟠No data is managed, only version switches | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ❔ | 🚧WIP | ❌No | 🟠No data is managed, only version switches | ✅Yes (?) |
Installing Modpacks through Launcher | ||||||||||
Curseforge Modpacks | ❌No | ✅Yes | ❌No | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ❔ | ❌No | ❌No |
Modrinth Modpacks | ❌No | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ❌No | ❔ | ❌No | ❔ | ❌No | ❌No |
ATLauncher Modpacks | ❌No | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ❌No | ❔ | ❌No | ❔ | ❌No | ❌No |
FTB Modpacks | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ✅Yes | ❔ | ✅Yes | ❔ | ❌No | ❌No |
Legacy FTB Modpacks | ❌No | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ❌No | ❌No | ❔ | ✅Yes | ❔ | ❌No | ❌No |
Technic Modpacks | ❌No | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ❌No | ❔ | ❌No | ✅Yes | ❌No | ❌No |
Installing Mod Loaders through Launcher | ||||||||||
Fabric Loader Support | ❌No | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ❔ | ❌No | ❔ | ❌No | ❌No |
Forge Loader Support | ❌No | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ❔ | ❌No | ❔ | ❌No | ❌No |
Quilt Loader Support | ❌No | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ❌No | ❔ | ❌No | ❔ | ❌No | ❌No |
LiteLoader Support | ❌No | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ❌No | ❌No | ❔ | ❌No | ❔ | ❌No | ❌No |
Installing Mods through Launcher | ||||||||||
Curseforge Mod Download | ❌No | ✅Yes | ❌No | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | 🚧Yes, but not functional | ❔ | ❌No | ❌No |
Modrinth Mod Download | ❌No | ✅Yes | ❌No | ✅Yes | 🚧WIP | ❌No | ❌No | ❔ | ❌No | ❌No |
Curseforge Blocked Mod Download | ❌No | ✅Yes (via web browser, automatically moves mod) | ❌No | ✅Yes (via web browser, automatically moves mod) | ✅Yes (by using standard browser user agent) | ✅Yes | ❔Unknown (as mod search is not functional) | ❔ | ❌No | ❌No |
Mod Updating | ❌No | ✅Yes | ❌No | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ❔ | ❌No | ❔ | ❌No | ❌No |
Misc | ||||||||||
Resourcepack download [modrinth|curseforge] | ❌No | ✅Yes (MR, CF) | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No |
Shaderpack download [modrinth|curseforge] | ❌No | ✅Yes (MR) | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No |
Plugins Download [modrinth|curseforge] | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No |
Server Instances | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ✅Yes | ❌No | ❔ | ❔ | ❔ | ❌No | ❌No |
Automatic Java Setup | ✅Yes | 🚧WIP | ❌No | ✅Optional | ✅Optional | ❔ | ❔ | ❔ | ✅Yes | ✅Yes |
Full Launcher Sandboxing | ❌No | 🚧WIP | ❔ | ❔ | ❔ | ❔ | ❔ | ❔ | ❌No | ❔ |
Instance Export | ❌No | MultiMC, Modrinth | MultiMC, Modrinth | Curseforge, Modrinth, MultiMC | Curseforge | ❔ | ❔ | ❔ | ❌No | ❌No |
Instance Import | ❌No | Curseforge, Modrinth, MultiMC, Technic | Curseforge, MultiMC, Technic, FTB App | Curseforge, Modrinth, MultiMC | Curseforge | ❔ | ❔ | ❔ | ❌No | ❌No |
Look and Feel | Minecraft Official | System (configurable) | System (configurable) | Custom (configurable) | Custom | Custom | Custom | Custom | System (mostly) | Minecraft Knockoff |
Other Bloat | ||||||||||
Advertisements | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ❔ | ❌No | ❌No |
In Game Overlay | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ❌No | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ❌No | ❌No | ✅Yes, for controls -> touch screen |
If you have any change requests, and info that should be added or improved, please note it down here in the comments, or on my discord: Tayou#4951 or on matrix: @Tayou:matrix.org or on telegram: @TayouVR